Apart from being a mom, a puppy cuddler and a lover or all things vampire, Stacey Green is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist; she loves the earth and is committed to making it a healthier place. She’s also the brainpower behind Crtl+Alt+DelEAT: A 4-Week Healthy Living Reset.

While resetting your eating strategies can seem overwhelming at the start, it is a learned skill that, in time, can become second nature. We spoke with Stacey to get some pointers on how make the process less daunting and more natural.

Can you summarize your Crtl+Alt+DelEAT: Your 4-Week Healthy Living Reset in a few points?

Absolutely! Crtl+Alt+DelEAT is my answer to all of the “get skinny quick” or “lose 20lbs. in 20 days” programs. Most people are aware that you need to create a lifestyle change in order to see lasting results, but no one really shows you how to do it. I mean, there are 30-day programs that tell you what to eat for a month but leave you hanging after that. What are you supposed to do on day 31 or day 45 or day 153?

I really wanted to create something that not only worked but also gave people confidence in their own abilities. My plan was pretty simple: create a program that was so easy for people to implement that if they stuck to it and completed each of the weekly action steps, they would create entirely new habits and in turn, a new lifestyle. I’m pretty proud of it and the results it produces but more importantly of the people who step up and take action!

What is the biggest misconception around developing a healthy diet?

I would say the biggest misconception is that there is some quick fix or magic pill that is going to instantly give you the healthy body you envision. I’m not saying it’s an overly difficult process, but it does take consistent action and perseverance in order to be successful. Cooking and learning to live a healthier lifestyle is a skill just like anything else. It’s like learning a new language. At first it will seem overwhelming and confusing, but the more you do it, the better you get at it. Then it becomes second nature!

What if we have no time to cook? Do you have any recipes you can recommend that are quick and easy that we won’t get sick of?

I think the idea that we don’t have time to cook is a misconception. We can always find time for the things in our lives that are priorities but cooking our food from scratch has moved down the list in recent years. That being said, we definitely lead busy lives, so setting yourself up for the week by prepping ahead of time is extremely important. Chop up veggies, cook and portion out rice, grill some chicken or salmon and have them ready to go in your fridge. I even go to the extent of creating smoothie packs in my freezer so I can wake up in the morning, throw in my liquids, blend and go! To keep things interesting, I change up my dressings. There are literally hundreds of combinations you can try.

What is your own personal mantra when it comes to eating?

For me, it’s all about trying your best and educating yourself as much as possible. Try new foods, read labels, ask questions and don’t give up. Commit to creating change in your life and don’t believe everything the TV tells you. You have the ability to make incredible transformations in your life by what you put in your mouth.

My favourite quote of all time is by Ann Wigmore: “The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” This resonates with me so much because it’s exactly how I feel. Think of how powerful that makes you! Imagine what is possible in your life if you simply take charge of it and your choices. I love it.

What do people eat all the time that they think is healthy (but really isn’t)?

Dairy is a type of food that a lot of people think is doing great things for their bodies but it’s really not. The majority of my clients suffer from some kind of dairy intolerance but are unaware of it. It can manifest itself as an upset stomach: cramps, bloating, gas and even as skin problems. Luckily there are so many amazing dairy alternatives out there that transitioning to them is super easy. Try experimenting with different nut milks in your morning coffee and see how you feel. Cashew is my current go-to!

What is your favourite recipe of all time?

What a tricky question! Seriously, I’m a big fan of food. I don’t know if I could tell you my all-time favourite, but my favourite right now would have to be pasta. I recently married into an Italian family and let me tell you, I had no idea what real pasta sauce tasted like until I had my mother-in-law’s. There is a lot of work that goes into making your own sauce from scratch and it’s worth every bit of it. There is nothing quite like rice or spelt pasta with homemade sauce and meatballs that have been simmering on the stove all day. The smell is incredible and the taste is out of this world!

Get more information about Stacey’s 4-Week Healthy Living Reset by checking out her website.

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